INQUA 2412 my: Mapping Ancient Africa: Climate, vegetation and humans – Phase II (MAACH 2.0)

The aim of the project is to bring together researchers to gain a better understanding of the relationships between climate change and hominin evolution and cultural development in Africa.

Abstract

The “Mapping Ancient Africa: Climate, Vegetation & Humans” commenced in 2021 and is a multi-year project funded by the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA). Specifically, the project is supported by PALCOM (the Palaeoclimate commission) and HABCOM (the Human & Biospheres commission).

Phase 1 of the project (2021-2023) was lead by William Gosling (University of Amsterdam) and Stefanie Kaboth-Bahr (University of Potsdam / Free University of Berlin), with support from regional hub coordinators: Rahab Kinyanjui (National Museum of Kenya / Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology), Lynne Quick (Nelson Mandela University), and Sarah Ivory (Penn State University). The aim of the first phase was to build a network of researchers interested in past environmental change and human activity in Africa, deliver a research skills workshop, and present findings at the INQUA Rome 2023 congress.

Phase 2 of the project (2023-2025) was lead by Stefanie Kaboth-Bahr (Free University of Berlin) and Rahab Kinyanjui (National Museum of Kenya / Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology). The aim of the second phase is to develop scientific writing skills among the community and to deliver a special issue of Quaternary International.

Mapping Ancient Africa Research and Writing Workshop South Africa (2026)

The Mapping Ancient Africa Research and Writing Workshop, held in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2–6 March 2026), brought together early-career scientists (ECS) and senior researchers from across Africa and Europe to strengthen research development, scientific writing, and academic networking within an African-focused Quaternary science context. The workshop was designed to support ECS in advancing their own research projects while improving their ability to communicate results effectively for publication. Through a combination of structured sessions and hands-on writing time, participants developed individual workplans, discussed key challenges in the publishing process, and received targeted feedback on manuscript structure and argumentation. Dedicated writing blocks allowed participants to make tangible progress on their own drafts, supported by peer exchange and mentoring from facilitators. A strong emphasis was placed on building a collaborative and inclusive research network within the Mapping Ancient Africa (MAA) community. Discussions on professional development, equity, and inclusivity highlighted the importance of fostering supportive academic environments and long-term collaboration across institutions and regions.

The workshop successfully combined capacity building, scientific writing training, and network development, contributing to the long-term goal of strengthening African-led research and interdisciplinary collaboration in Quaternary science.